Feeding mechanism for tack-cutting machines.



No. 842,137. PATENTED JAN. 22, 1907.

G. N, 000mm.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR TACK CUTTING MACHINES. APPLICATION rn nn NOV. 12,1905.

's JZsLwp Cooper,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE NELSON COOPER, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE FREDERICK SOULE, OF PLYMOUTH, MAS- SA CHUSETTS.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR TACK-CUTTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed November 13, 1905. Serial No. 287,035.

To all 1071,0111, it may concern:

' Be it known that I, GEORGE NELso COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improve ment in Feeding Mechanism for Tack-Cutting Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus for feeding metallic tack ribbon or strip in the production of tacks.

In my invention the tack-strip in the form of a ribbon is wound into a coil so that a very long length of ribbon or strip may be used instead of employing the usual short-length strip. With a ribbon of indefinite length very much time is saved and the production sary to frequently stop the machine, as now commonly 'done, to renew the tack-strip. Prior to my invention a tube having contrivances to engage a tack-strip has been moved forward to feed the strip by a spring. In accordance with my invention, however, I move positively the tube containing the ribbon when the latter is to be fed forwardly that the usual cutting member may sever the ribbon, said tube having feeding-dogs that engage the ribbon in the forward movement of the tube, said feeding-dogs sliding over the ribbon in the backward movement of the tube.

My apparatus also presents ribbon-hold ing dogs that engage the ribbon and hold the same while the tube is being moved backwardly by a spring to be described after each cutting operation, the feeding-dogs moving freely over the ribbon held between the holding-dogs.

Figure 1 represents a tube with a sufficient portion of a tack-feeding machine to illustrate my improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the ribbon-feeding dogs and part ofthe tube and the ribbon -holding dogs. Fig. 4 is a section of some of the parts shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a detail of the head of the tube and its connected nose, said figure also showing one end of theribbon.

Referring to the drawings, a represents a reel mounted on a suitable pivot a, and conof the machine is increased, as it is unneces-- taining a ribbon c of metal, from which the tacks are to be made.

A represents a tube, which will be sustained in a machine in usual manner and oscillated back and forth in usual manner between one and the next operation of cutting tacks. The front end of the tube has insorted in it a bushing A, provided with a shoulder that abuts the end of the tube, and the bushing is held in place by a suitable screw (1 The bushing hassuitable ears 2, upon which are pivoted feeding-dogs b, the outer ends of which are acted upon by suitable springs b, that serve to close the feedingdogs normally upon the ribbon a and as the dogs are shaped it will be readily understood that when the tube is moved in the direc tion of the arrow, Fig. 1, the rounded exmanner and moving an actuator, shown as.

the lever B, which has a link B that engages the free end of alever B, that enters an annu' lar groove ina collar B fast to the tube, so that when said lever B is moved in the direction of the arrow near its upper end, Fig. 1, the tube is moved positively, thus causing the feeding-dogs to take with them the ribbon from which the tacks are to be cut. Moving the ribbon positively insures more accurate work than is possible when the tube is moved forward by a spring.

The tube has a collar C, that is acted upon by a spring C, sustained from some fixed part C of the framework to the tack-making machine, said spring acting normally against the collar to move the tube backwardly when permitted by the cam B in its rotation, said spring returning said tube to its starting position. The extent of backward movement of the tube may be controlled by an adjusting device, shown as a screw 6 thatmay be turned out or in a suitable ear 6 The ribbon is sustained near the usual tack-cutting means by a nose D, carried by or forming part of the tube. The cutterplate D is sustained by a part D of the usual framework of the tack-cutting machine. The cutter plate has connected with it by a screw D a plate D one end of which is turned up and forked to enter an annular groove (Z in a collar (1, provided with ears on which are pivoted the ribbon-holding dogs d When the ribbon is moved forwardly by the tube through the engagement therewith of the feeding-dogs, the ribbon passes freely between the holding-dogs; but after a tack has been cut the spring C in the rotation of the cam B moves the tube and feeding dogs backwardly, the latter sliding over the ribbon, and itwill be seen that the holding-dogs, owing to the shape of their acting ends, grab firmly between them the strip and prevent any backward movement thereof.

It will be understood in practice that the tube besides being rotated forwardly and b ackw ardly to insure taking the heads of the tacks. from opposite edges of the strip between each operation of the tack-cutting plates must also be moved laterally in usual manner to thereby place the end of the. ribbon at a greater orless angle with relation to the cutting edges of the cutters, this being necessary to insure the proper taper for the body of the tack. That the tube may be moved laterally, the plate I) is mounted loosely on the screw D and said plate has therefore a limited amount of lateral movement Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In an ap aratus of the class described, a tube having f eedingdogs secured thereto, a nose secured to and extendingfromsaid tube, holding-dogs, means independent of the tube for sustaining the same between the nose and feeding-dogs, and means to move said tube and feeding-dogs forwardly positively to feed a ribbon or strip between the holdingdogs from the nose, said holding-dogs pre venting the movement backwardly of the ribbon or strip with the tube or feeding dogs in their backward movement.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a tube through which a ribbon or strip is to be fed, a bushing disposed at one end of the tube, feeding-dogs pivotally sustained by said bushing beyond the end of the tube, means to move said tube, bushing, and feedingdogs positively forward to feed a ribbon or strip, and holding-dogs disposed beycnd the feeding-dogs for preventing backward movement of the ribbon or strip, and'a spring for returning the tube, bushing and feedingdogs to their original position.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a tube, a bushing carried by said tube, feeding dogs pivotally sustained by said bushing, a nose extended from said tube to sustain a ribbon or strip at a distance from said feeding-dogs, a stationary collar intermediate said nose andfeeding-dogs, holding-dogs piv- Oted on said collar, means to move the tube forwardly positively to feed the strip, and means to prevent longitudinal movement of said collar, said parts operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE NELSON COOPER.

Witnesses:

J. HARRY POOLE, HENRY F. PARKER. 

